I thought it was a tactical substitution when he went off. Does this mean the charvet deal is off?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Answers

They said on the Metro post-match programme that it was a recurrence of his groin injury.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Maybe Man City will go for a hat trick and take Barton as well now he seems to be injury prone

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

In Yesterdays game it looked to me like Barton was in a three man back three until he was injured. We then went with a 4 - 4 - 2. I reckon that Charvet will be allowed to leave in the knowledge that Caldwell is a good player.(and there's always the Soft Spaniard) I think Caldwell will line up in a back 3 against the Hammers.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

The Ronnie reckons WB's groin injury has nothing to do the injury that kept him out for several weeks. Indeed, they quote Mick Wadsworth as saying he hopes Warren may even be fit for the WHU game.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

Hmmm....I'm sure he "hopes" Barton will be fit. I'm a bit worried that they feel pressured to rush him back and he goes out for an even longer stretch with re-injury or a new injury.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

Ronnie also reckons we are still intent on pushing thru the Charvet deal. At this stage, I'm not convinced that's a good idea as we don't seem to have a lot of cover. YBR said as much on Saturday when he chose to sub Barton with Gallacher and move Nobby back.

Griffin has yet to establish himself this season, perhaps due to injury, but he never threatened Barton's position (that's assuming he was fit some of the times Barton played). McGuffie isn't a Premiership FB at this stage.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I wonder if Olivier Bernard's registration has been sorted out?
Discounting Charvet, if Griffin and Barton are both injured we only have four senior defenders available, plus young Caldwell. This cannot be an acceptable situation.
I wonder if BR has any irons in the fire to use some of the money from Charvet's transfer? I suppose there's that Argentinian trialist from Tenerife, Paz, who he might now sign up.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

Forgot to mention - if we're still looking for a commanding CB, I saw one tonight. The name was Steve Howey - outstanding display in a 2-0 win for Man City at our nemesis ground, The Dell.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000

I didn't recognise him. He wasn't limping! Actually, I think Goma and Hughes have played better at CB this season than I've seen Howey for some long time. Hopefully, the change of scenery will do the lad good. Sometimes you need a change in circumstances to bring the best out of you.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2000